Rising star Rob Casey of St. Peter's High School football team is named Andrew Barberi Scholarship Award winner

St. Peter's Rob Casey (64) is a solid football player, but his performance is way better off the field.Advance File Photo/Derek Alvez

Rob Casey has always been gazing at the stars. Now it’s time for people to get a good look at him.

Even as a grammar-school student, the St. Peter’s HS senior has been fascinated with NASA and has had dreams to be involved with space exploration. For that reason, Casey has always kept a sharp focus on academics and has lived up to his lofty expectations accumulating a 99-plus average.

“I always saw myself as being an aerospace engineer. If you can’t get into one of those top-tier schools, you’re not going to make it,” he said.

And the 18-year-old’s impressive grades are just the start. The three-year varsity football player has a plethora of off-the-field activities on his resume such as being elected senior class president and being involved in the school’s food and clothing drives. Also, he attended the American Legion Boys State and has been on St. Peter’s National Honor Society all four years.

Casey can now add a new honor. He has been named this year’s Andrew Barberi Scholarship Award winner.

“He was inspired by his teachers and his community to pursue civic and charitable causes, which he has. That’s one of the hallmarks of the Barberi Award,” said committee president Dr. Eugene Mosiello. “It’s not just being the athlete. It’s being community-minded, civic-minded, charitable-minded, having loyalty to one’s school and community and having responsibility and school leadership.”

Although the 5-foot-9, 210-pounder admitted he didn’t know much about Barberi’s legacy until he was nominated him for the $2,000 award, Casey knows now what it means after Mosiello informed him about the legendary Curtis HS football coach.

“I just feel extremely honored for something that’s been lasting for so long and to be a part of his legacy. I feel honored and proud to be a part of it,” said Casey. “I kind of feel like I have some big shoes to fill. I feel if I keep up the hard work that I did to get this award, I’m sure I’ll achieve what I want to.”

“Andy was a teacher of life and people. Sports — and football in particular — was a piece of his life. It wasn’t his whole life,” said Mosiello. “Most people tend to think of him as just a high school football coach. But the people who really know Andy or his students or people that went to the school where he taught, they realized this man was for all people.”

STILL WAITING WORD FROM TOP COLLEGES

Casey is still awaiting word on his top college choices — Harvard and Cooper Union — but has already received a partial academic scholarship to Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Rob Casey

“I think it just comes that I love my school and I love my friends. I don’t see it as work. I see it as having a good time,” he said. “As far as schoolwork that’s the only grind part.”

That attitude is something that Barberi certainly would have been proud of.

“I was taught these lessons by other people. Be loyal; don’t forget your friends; and don’t forget where you came from,” said Mosiello. “Well, Andy was one of those types of people who taught you that. And that stays with you.”

Despite playing three varsity seasons as an undersized offensive lineman and winning the prestigious Monsignor Matthew Peters Award in December — which is given annually to the CHSFL’s top scholar-athlete — Mosiello said Casey would have been just a normal person to Barberi.

“People admired Andy Barberi for making them feel they were no different than anybody else in the school. They were the same,” said Mosiello. “Nobody was treated any differently than anyone else. They were all important. Every player on his team, every person and every student in the school, nobody was more important than the other. And Andy lived his life like that.”

Casey is the third St. Peter’s product to win the award, joining John Dowd in 2007 and Andrew Wondolowski in 2008.

“I’ve always loved football. I’ve played since I was 6. It was amazing playing with my friends,” he said. “We haven’t had too many successful seasons, but to have such a small team with about 30 kids, we’ve done some amazing things.”

“Rob is obviously a real bright kid. He’s able to balance academics and athletics on a regular basis,” said recently retired St. Peter’s head coach Mike Cosentino. “He’s a very coachable young man and I’m sure he’s the same in the classroom. I’m sure all the teachers will say the same about him. He’s a very active young man with all his outside interests. He is the total package.”

“I’m just proud of myself. I know my family is proud. After four years, I think it finally paid off to get this award,” said Casey.